Japanese Short Rows

a photo tutorial

While the German short row is my go-to short row, the most inconspicuous is the Japanese short row. It is a bit more fiddly but also more precise. This is useful if you are knitting with a brighter yarn or one that has a sheen or a very clear stitch definition that doesn’t let you hide unevenness or tricksy moves.

Great for Bust Darts

I often use it for bust darts knitted with such unforgiving yarns.
Well, I now tend to use it for all bust darts in any yarn for the precision of it is so pleasing.

Abbreviations

Jsl1 hang removable marker on working yarn, knit/purl
next stitch with marker hanging on WS between this
stitch and the slipped stitch

We are working in plain stocking stitch. The photos are arranged in the order you would work Japanese Short Rows for a bust dart on a Ziggurat pullover knitted in the round.

1. RS: knit to the point for turning.
Turn work over to work from WS.

2.Jsl1 on WS:
Hang a removable stitch marker on the working yarn, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front, purl next stitch while making sure that the marker sits on the yarn between the slipped stitch and next stitch.

3. Marker is hanging on yarn between slipped stitch and next stitch.
Purl to next point for turning.
Turn work over to work from RS.

4.Jsl1 on RS: Hang a removable marker on working yarn on WS, behind needle.
Slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn in back. Knit next stitch while making sure that the marker sits on the yarn between the slipped stitch and the next stitch.

4a. VIEW from WS after 2 stitches have been knitted: Marker hangs on yarn between the slipped and next (knit) stitch.

5. Continuing on RS: knit to the gap.
The marker from Step 2 sits on WS between the last 2 stitches on RN. Then there is a gap.
Take yarn to front (RS), pull on marker to make loop available.

6. Keep yarn to front, place loop on LN, with its right leg to front (untwisted), remove marker.

7. Take yarn to back between needles as shown.

8. Knit 2 stitches together (the loop and next stitch).Jk1 is done.
If working a bust dart, you will now repeat Steps 1 & 2 before continuing with Step 9.

9. WS: Purl to the gap.
The marker sits between the last 2 stitches on RN.

13.Purl 2 stitches together (the slipped stitch and the loop).Jp1 is done.

14. Repeat from Step 3 to work as many short rows (and as many stitches after each turn) as directed in your pattern.

Wrapping things up

15. On the first normal round after the Bust Dart is completed, you will come across an unworked Jsl1. This final Jk1 is worked differently than that in Steps 5–8:
Knit to the gap, pass loop behind next stitch and place loop on LN, remove marker, knit 2 stitches together (next stitch and loop).

That’s it. Really. You have to look pretty closely to spot the short-row dart.
Yes, the dart sits too low on Greta – she is perkier than I.
Besides, the pullover (Chatoyant) was not knitted for her.